Spruce up a tired bicycle with repurposed and recycled floral accents.
Rabid bicycle worship continues to take the world by storm, and if one or more of the following enthusiastic declarations hasn’t already tumbled out of your own mouth, chances are pretty good that you have heard a friend, colleague or family member say…
“Riding on two wheels is totally eco-friendly!”
“It’s worth pedaling for the gasoline and insurance savings alone!”
“Cycling is great for your body, plus there’s no workout boredom!”
“Cruising around with the wind blowing through your hair is the greatest stress reliever ever!”
“Your blood pressure will instantly drop and you’ll feel 10 years younger!”
“You’ll probably get to your destination a lot quicker, plus it’s a cinch finding a parking spot!”
Commuting on bicycle (or merely just tooling around on weekends) has enjoyed such a notable resurgence in popularity that you can’t go anywhere without seeing the two-wheeled lifestyle depicted in every corner of pop culture, from art, design and fashion, to film and television (Portlandia, anyone?).
Desperately seeking a non-dorky cycling helmet? No problem. How about specially designed urban cycling duds? You got it! Walk into a big-box store and you’ll now even be able to purchase a limited-edition designer bicycle adorned with Italian fashion house Missoni’s signature zigzag pattern, or for those with far more disposable income, higher-end limited-edition versions by the likes of Kate Spade, Hermes, Cynthia Rowley, Gucci, Chanel and Ralph Lauren are also available.
With bicycle adoration at an all-time fever pitch, it’s hardly surprising that fans are sprucing up their favorite mode of transportation with uniquely personalized flourishes such as corseted seat covers, DIY baskets, hand-crocheted dress guards, fuzzy dangling handlebar dice, illuminated spokes and leather six-pack holders. Securing this treasured possession onto a sturdy metal pole can now be achieved courtesy of a fanciful ivy-like cable lock or a conventional U-shaped security device sheathed with a multicolored hand-knitted cozy.
Well, why shouldn’t real live greenery get in on the bicycle bling-a-ling action? All things considered, bikes and portable gardens are kindred spirits, much in the same way that peanut butter and jelly were simply just meant to go together. Bicycle commuting is a zero-carbon endeavor, so it would seem that boosting one’s ride with botanical oomph could conceivably make it even more planet friendly. Despite cyclers being exposed to copious amounts of pollution while commuting back and forth, wouldn’t it be cool if portable plants were somehow capable of yielding a personalized smog filtration system? Hey, there’s no harm in dreaming.
You’re intrigued, aren’t you? Well there’s no reason why your bike should be left out of all the plant-inspired fun:
- Fill a bicycle basket with a bountiful leafy-floral garden or seed the exterior with real grass.
- Weave fresh picked flowers in your wheel spokes. Of course, tender blades of grass will also work!
- Hammer together a bodacious window box planter that can be anchored to your handlebars with a few zip ties.
- Colleen Jordan sells individual miniature nylon planters in assorted colors that effortlessly attach to bicycle frames, but petite containers of all types can certainly be modified — perhaps even a recycled egg carton planter strapped to a rear carrier?
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